Mom spared death for microwaving baby

Spiegel · 09-04-2008, 01:01 AM

Quote:

DAYTON, Ohio (AP) -- A woman convicted of murdering her infant daughter by microwaving her was spared the death penalty Wednesday by a jury that couldn't reach a unanimous decision.

China Arnold showed no immediate reaction, but she smiled and waved to family members as deputies led her from the courtroom. Her relatives told her they loved her.

"I love you all, too," said Arnold, 28.

The defense had argued that Arnold was drunk when the offense occurred and had no motive, while prosecutors had called the crime "heinous" as they argued for the death penalty.

After about five hours of deliberation, the jury told Montgomery County Common Pleas Judge Mary Wiseman that it couldn't decide whether to recommend the death penalty or life in prison, and that it wouldn't be able to make such a decision even if it deliberated through Thursday.

Wiseman is now limited to sentencing Arnold to life in prison without parole, life without parole for at least 30 years, or life without parole for at least 25 years. She plans to impose her sentence Monday.

Arnold was accused of killing month-old Paris Talley in 2005. A judge declared a mistrial in February, and the retrial began August 18. The jury found Arnold guilty Friday of aggravated murder.

"It's not about achieving the death penalty," Assistant Montgomery County Prosecutor David Franceschelli said after the jury's announcement. "The judge is going to figure out the appropriate penalty. The jurors in this case took a shot at sentencing, and for whatever reason 12 people couldn't come to the same conclusion."

Outside the courthouse, Arnold's relatives hugged one another.

"We're relieved that an innocent person didn't receive the death penalty," said defense attorney Jon Paul Rion. "It doesn't make sense that a person who has had no real problems in their life can even be accused of something like this."

Rion had asked Tuesday for a new trial, saying a former cellmate who said Arnold confessed to the crime has changed her story. Wiseman has not ruled on the motion and said she would schedule a hearing.

Rion said he plans to present witnesses that point to another person being responsible for the baby's death.

During the trial, an 8-year-old boy said he saw another boy walk into the kitchen of a nearby apartment with the baby, heard the microwave go on and then later saw the burned baby in the microwave.

Attorneys for both sides addressed the jury before deliberations on Wednesday. The fact that Arnold had been a Girl Scout, that her father died when she was young and that she comes from a close family does not outweigh the seriousness of the crime, Assistant Montgomery County Prosecutor Daniel Brandt said.

"That tells us she has no excuses for her actions," he said.

Defense attorney Kevin Lennen urged the jury not to recommend the death penalty, saying Arnold was drunk at the time and that she had no motive to kill her child.

Franceschelli had the last word, calling the crime "heinous." He pulled out a wristwatch and waved it at jurors.

"If this is not the time for the death penalty, when is the time?" he said.

Why in the f***** hell would you microwaves their baby and escapes the death penalty?? The worst part is that the jury was confused and couldn't decide if she deserved it? A baby was microwaved and burned to death......dumbasses!

Miu · 09-04-2008, 01:07 AM

They must have bribed the judge.

Why do people keep producing babies when they can't even take care of them properly? What an irresponsible mother. She should be killed.

YoshiToshi · 09-04-2008, 01:08 AM

It seems like the excuses they made for not giving her the death penalty was pretty reasonable, though. If she killed her baby with the intention of killing it, I would be all for the death penalty-- But if she was drunk at the time, or if "another boy who walked into the kitchen" did it; I don't think the death penalty is a right judgement.
It seems like life in prison is enough for this type of crime-- Especially if it guarantees that she won't do it again. =/
I'll agree, though-- She is extremely irresponsible. If I could bend the law in any way that I would've wanted, she'd get the death penalty.

shadow_moon · 09-04-2008, 01:15 AM

wtf ? microwaving you own baby? can you even do that even your drunk...

Hiraku · 09-04-2008, 01:26 AM

she should have gotten the death penalty there is no excuse for the murder of a child no matter the circumstances.

Pride · 09-04-2008, 04:19 AM

If she had done this in texas, she would have gotten the express lane to death.

09-04-2008, 04:26 AM

To be fair, babies can be pretty damn annoying.

Pride · 09-04-2008, 04:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miburo

To be fair, babies can be pretty damn annoying.

Agreed, and they ruin relationships / sex forever.

kluang · 09-04-2008, 04:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miburo

To be fair, babies can be pretty damn annoying.

Agreed. Thats why God made them soo cute and cuddly, but sometimes that won't work.

Jaxon · 09-04-2008, 05:48 AM

These tasty MicroBabies are ready to eat in just three minutes.

YoshiToshi · 09-04-2008, 05:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shadow_moon

wtf ? microwaving you own baby? can you even do that even your drunk...

My drunk cousin put the cat in the washing machine at new years. Same concept, different results.

akuryuken · 09-04-2008, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shadow_moon

wtf ? microwaving you own baby? can you even do that even your drunk...

i dont know but why always the guilty was drunk?

UchihaTaijiya · 09-20-2008, 11:21 PM

She needs to be evaluated for any mental disorders, I think. >.> Most drunk mothers don't just up and put their babies in microwaves, you know you generally hear they abuse them, burn them with cigarettes, or just seriously neglect their children.... I wonder what the hell she drank?

Not sure if she deserves death though, she might have been suffering from severe depression or delusions. I don't believe for a second that she has no 'real' problems.

itsokihadsubwaytoday · 09-21-2008, 01:47 AM

i'd choose death penalty over life in prision any day... -.-

Nic · 09-21-2008, 02:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UchihaTaijiya

She needs to be evaluated for any mental disorders, I think. >.> Most drunk mothers don't just up and put their babies in microwaves, you know you generally hear they abuse them, burn them with cigarettes, or just seriously neglect their children.... I wonder what the hell she drank?

Not sure if she deserves death though, she might have been suffering from severe depression or delusions. I don't believe for a second that she has no 'real' problems.

I would be drinking Drain-O if i was her.

09-04-2008, 01:07 AM	#2
Miu Genin Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: In the kitchen pantry Posts: 105 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Mom spared death for microwaving baby They must have bribed the judge. Why do people keep producing babies when they can't even take care of them properly? What an irresponsible mother. She should be killed. __________________ Take this! Member: The Jiraiya FC THe Hatake Kakashi FC The Akatsuki FC

09-04-2008, 01:08 AM	#3
YoshiToshi YoshiToshi say grawr. Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Hawaii.. grawr. Age: 22 Posts: 7,859 Thanks: 6 Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts	Re: Mom spared death for microwaving baby It seems like the excuses they made for not giving her the death penalty was pretty reasonable, though. If she killed her baby with the intention of killing it, I would be all for the death penalty-- But if she was drunk at the time, or if "another boy who walked into the kitchen" did it; I don't think the death penalty is a right judgement. It seems like life in prison is enough for this type of crime-- Especially if it guarantees that she won't do it again. =/ I'll agree, though-- She is extremely irresponsible. If I could bend the law in any way that I would've wanted, she'd get the death penalty. __________________ 1.14.20.9 - 14.15.15.2\|hope to be more active... yoshitoshi//yoshitoshi//yoshitoshi//yoshi toshi Click here to level up my license!

09-04-2008, 01:15 AM	#4
shadow_moon ANBU Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: somewhere in earth Posts: 1,686 Thanks: 0 Thanked 128 Times in 99 Posts	Re: Mom spared death for microwaving baby wtf ? microwaving you own baby? can you even do that even your drunk... __________________ Be awed by my prowess! - Keigo Atobe

09-04-2008, 01:26 AM	#5
Hiraku Puppet Master Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: land of sand Age: 25 Posts: 1,308 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Mom spared death for microwaving baby she should have gotten the death penalty there is no excuse for the murder of a child no matter the circumstances. __________________ $C:\Documents and Settings\Sayian\My Documents\Pictures\My Pictures\263046471_01d7030b2f.jpg$ Hiraku *The Look of Innocence*

09-04-2008, 04:19 AM	#6
Pride Change is coming Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Louisiana Age: 23 Posts: 1,248 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Mom spared death for microwaving baby If she had done this in texas, she would have gotten the express lane to death. __________________ [1.14.20.9 - 14.15.15.2]

09-04-2008, 04:26 AM	#7
Miburo Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Mom spared death for microwaving baby To be fair, babies can be pretty damn annoying.

09-04-2008, 05:48 AM	#10
Jaxon Groovy. Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 4,393 Thanks: 3,601 Thanked 12,490 Times in 3,671 Posts	Re: Mom spared death for microwaving baby These tasty MicroBabies are ready to eat in just three minutes.

09-20-2008, 11:21 PM	#13
UchihaTaijiya sublimis ab unda Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 2,777 Thanks: 7,387 Thanked 3,312 Times in 1,249 Posts	Re: Mom spared death for microwaving baby She needs to be evaluated for any mental disorders, I think. >.> Most drunk mothers don't just up and put their babies in microwaves, you know you generally hear they abuse them, burn them with cigarettes, or just seriously neglect their children.... I wonder what the hell she drank? Not sure if she deserves death though, she might have been suffering from severe depression or delusions. I don't believe for a second that she has no 'real' problems. __________________ If the elephants have past lives yet are destined to always remember It's no wonder how they scream Like you and I they must have some temper And I am dreaming of them on the plains Dirtying up their beds Watching for some sign of rain to cool their hot heads And how dare that you send me that card when I'm doing all that I can do You are forcing me to remember when all I want is to just forget you If the tiger shall protect her young then tell me how did you slip by All my instincts have failed me for once I must have somehow slept the whole night And I am dreaming of them with their kill Tearing it all apart Blood dripping from their lips and teeth sinking into heart And how dare that you say you'll call When you know I need some peace of mind If you have to take sides with the animals Won't you do it with one who is kind And if the hawks in the trees need the dead If you're living you don't stand a chance For a time though you share the same bed There are only two ends to this dance You can flee with your wounds just in time or lie there as he feeds Watching yourself ripped to shreds and laughing as you bleed So for those of you falling in love keep it kind Keep it good Keep it right Throw yourself in the midst of danger but keep one eye open at night

09-21-2008, 01:47 AM	#14
itsokihadsubwaytoday Academy Student Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Somewhere very hott and dry that starts with an A and ends with RIZONA. any guesses? Age: 21 Posts: 28 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Mom spared death for microwaving baby i'd choose death penalty over life in prision any day... -.-

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode